Russert doesn't get paid the big bucks for embarrassing or antagonizing liberal guests. He gets paid for dancing with them. Period.
That is no excuse for asking a direct question and then sitting quietly while the guest completely avoids the question. Russert looked like an idiot that did not know how to get a guest to answer his question.
...and it has nothing to do with embarrassing or antagonizing a guest, liberal or otherwise. Viewers are not so stupid as to fall for that charade if that is what you mean.